Who has a card?

Ease in obtaining marijuana “green cards” will hinder legalization

Advocates for medical marijuana have made great progress in the last few years.

Several states, including Washington, have taken varied steps towards legalizing medical cannabis, and public sentiment is not inclined to throw a wrench in the works.

But the actions of a growing number of pot heads could change that.

An investigative journalism piece by the Trib’s Rob Carson (10/2) shed some light on a growing phenomenon- modern day carpetbaggers setting up marijuana permitting clinics in Tacoma. Medical credentials aside, the aim of these individuals and their storefronts is to churn out a high volume of marijuana permits whether their patients’ needs are legally valid.

Like dope dealers everywhere, these individuals are all about skirting the law in the name of profit.

Carson’s insightful report demonstrates that new laws and restrictions cater not only to patients in beed of pain reduction or relief from chemotherapy-induced nause; new guidelines have opened the floodgates for people only interested in smoking marijuana for the high.

The new clinics, set up to issue marijuana use permits, exist as a rubber stamp shop for people looking to score, and in at least one case that can be accomplished by walking to the dispensary next door.

One medical professional quoted in Carson’s article states he “does his best to comply with state law.” That sounds like the sort of excuse you hear in a sentencing hearing.

One canna-businessman (I need to patent that term), in a heady rush of capitalism, was quoted saying, “There is big freaking money in this thing.” The thing to which he was referring was the (low, low priced!) $99 cost for medical marijuana permits, the so-called green card.

What is clear is that the true advocates and legitimate patients of medical marijuana are being overwhelmed in number by recreational users. These habitual pot smokers are pushing and shoving at a legal doorway that the legislature merely cracked open.

One can hardly argue their enthusiasm, but it could end up being costly.

The issue comes down to perception. If the people choose to legalize medical marijuana, thereby upending decades of cultural beliefs and drug laws, many of them will want reassurance that is for chronicallly ill patients.

On the other hand, if it becomes clear that the medical marijuana legislation was merely a ruse–to provide ethically challenged medical professionals and pot growers a constant source of cash, and a legal and never-ending bong hit for recreational users–then the people might get pissed off.

Marijuana advocates should consider these missteps, because the door of legalization swings both ways.